Rugby Referees Get Ready for Season

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 64, 17 March 1936, Page 8

Rugby Referees Get Ready for Season

ASSOCIATION TO SUPPORT 2—3—2 SCRUM.

OFFICERS ELECTED. Mr E. W. Low (president) was iu the chair at the annual meeting of the Alanaw-atu Rugby Referees' Association held last evening, and there was an attendance of over 20 mombers. Apologies for absence w-ere received from Messrs J. Fulton, T. Woodham, A. W. Thompson, F. I'etro and W. B. Duthie. Correspondence. A letter was rocoived from the New Zealand Rugby Keforees’ Association, giving a reminder of tho nunual meeting and conforenco at New Plymouth at Easter. —Air Hands was appointed to represent the Alanawatu Referees’ Association. Report and Balance Sheet. The report and balance sheet were adopted on tho motion of the president and Air L. G. Berry. The report was taken as read and in moving that it be adopted, Air Low suggested that the recent All Black tour should give the game a muchneeded boost during the coming season. He congratulated the members on the high average attendance at meetings during the past year and he added that the fact that the association had a membership large enough to mako the appointment of referees a comparatively easy matter. Air Low extended congratulations to Air C. Eade, of Fcilding, who had qualified for his New Zealand certificate, and to Alessrs F. Petre and C. G. Taylor, who had passed the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association’s examination. Air Low-, in conclusion, suggested that during the coming year the effort should be made to arrange for different lectures and that the invitation to club coaches to attend tho lectures arranged by the association should again be extended. Air A. Ward thought that if the fact that club coaches would be welcomed at lectures were made know 7 |i through the medium of the Press, there would be no need for the invitations. This was agreed to. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Air E. W. Low; vice-president, Air L. G. Berry; hon, secretary and treasurer, Air J. H. White; delegate to the Alanawatu Rugby Union, Air E. W. Low; hon. auditor, Air F. C. Campbell; appointment board and classification committee, Alessrs H. Hands, L. G. Berry and the president; delegate to annual conference of New Zealand referees, Mr R. Hands. In regard to the lule of the association that new members be balloted for, the president asked the meeting if it was the wish that this rule should be enforced. Air Berry considered that no harm would be done if the rule was enforced, but Mr J. Burgess suggested there was no need for a resolution —that the rule was already on the books. To put (the discussion in order, All Ward moved that the rule relating to the ballot be strictly enforced. Air Berry seconded this and it was carried. Scrum. Formation. Suggesting that the question of scrum formation was one ■which would be widely discussed in the very near future, Air Hands thought that the Referees’ Association, in order that their delegate should be prepared, should decide what stand they were going to take in the matter. His own opinion w-as that the 2223 —2 scrum was the best one for New Zealand and without doubt the best one from the referees’ viewpoint. Air Berry reminded the meeting that New Zealand’s remit advocating the 23 —2 formation had not found favouj at the recent Imperial conference in England. Air Hands moved that in the event of scrum formation being brought before tho Alanawatu Rugby Union, that the referees’ delegate be instructed to vote in favour of the 2-. —3 —2 scrum. This was seconded by Air Burgess and carried without further comment. Votes of Thanks. Votes of thanks w r ere accorded the active members of the association, the appointment committee, and the Press. Returning thanks, on behalf of the active referees. Air Ward said that it w ? as good to know their services had been appreciated. This sentiment was endorsed by several other speakers. Before the meeting closed, it w'as decided that members meet every Friday, commencing a fortnight before tile season opens. President’s Report. The report submitted by Air Low to the annual meeting was as under: — “Attendance: During the season the attendance at meetings was the greatest for many years past and I think creates a record, all members complying with the rule of attending once a month. The meetings proved to be very instructive and members were interested and keen, some very lively debates and discussions on rules taking place. “ Aleinbership: The membership was exceeding large and every Saturday sawspare referees lining the banks. This was- a great help to the appointment board and assured the Rugby Union of all matches being well controlled. The standard of acting refereeing was verj high and new members showed great improvement as the season progressed. The future of the association appears very bright, taking a line through last season, as all members are young and keen, and the union permitted the appointment board to give all promising referees a' good try out. This must assist towards good refereeing this year.

“Instruction: A class was formed during the season for new members, who were given an additional instruction apart from the usual meetings, and this proved a most successful experiment and.should be.continued in future. It w-as noticeable that the members who attended this class, apart from tho two w-ho passed, gained the highest marks in the examination of the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association, conducted late in the season. “General: Alembers of the association visited Wellington during the season and engaged the association of that city in a football match, which, unfortunately, we lost by a very small margin. However, a most enjoyable day jvas spent and I am sure members will

look forward to the return match in Palmerston North this coming season. Again we met the Bush referees for the McCulloch cup and this match was played at the Winter Show, causing a great deal of enthusiasm, as an excellent game ensued —this time we gained the cup by 5 points to 4. The coming season we are due to visit the Bush Association and defend the cup, and this will prove, I am sure, a very pleasant trip. “Thanks: Thanks arc duo to the members in general for their services; to the Rugby Union for willing financial support and other grants; to the Press for their valued assistance in giving publicity to the various phases of the Rugby Code; to Mr Hands, our delegate to the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Association’s annual conference, who so capably upheld the Manawatu Association and Rugby in general; to Mr Low, our delegate on the Rugby Union, and to Messrs Holdsworth and Taylor, acting secretaries during tho illness of Mr White, our secretary, whom we are pleased to ste well and about again once more, and assure him that all will be done to assist him with his work during the coming season. Thanks are also due to our lion, auditor, Mr F. C. Campbell.”